U.S. patent application number 11/855123 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for audio player capable of playing multiple multimedia files simultaneously.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to YI-FENG WENG, SHIH-FANG WONG.
Application Number | 20080071401 11/855123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39189685 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080071401 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WONG; SHIH-FANG ; et
al. |
March 20, 2008 |
AUDIO PLAYER CAPABLE OF PLAYING MULTIPLE MULTIMEDIA FILES
SIMULTANEOUSLY
Abstract
An audio player capable of allowing multiple persons to listen
to different multimedia files simultaneously is provided. The audio
player includes a processing unit and a plurality of output
channels. Each of the output channels is configured for outputting
multimedia files. Each of the output channels includes a codec, an
amplifier, and an audio output port. The amplifier is connected to
the codec and the audio output port. The processing unit is
connected with the output channels. The processing unit is
configured for establishing a plurality of processes and for
controlling performance of the processes according to time division
multiplexing (TDM) technology. Wherein, each of the processes is
configured for playing multimedia files and is assigned with one of
the output channels for outputting the multimedia files.
Inventors: |
WONG; SHIH-FANG; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; WENG; YI-FENG; (Shenzhen, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. CHENG-JU CHIANG JEFFREY T. KNAPP
458 E. LAMBERT ROAD
FULLERTON
CA
92835
US
|
Assignee: |
HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY
(ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
Shenzhen City
CN
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
39189685 |
Appl. No.: |
11/855123 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/94 ; 381/119;
381/120; 381/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 27/105 20130101;
G11B 2020/10555 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/94 ; 381/119;
381/120; 381/80 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00; H04B 1/00 20060101 H04B001/00; H04B 3/00 20060101
H04B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 14, 2006 |
CN |
200610200871.3 |
Claims
1. An audio player comprising: a plurality of output channels, each
of which comprises a codec, an amplifier, and an audio output port,
wherein the amplifier is connected with the codec and the audio
output port; and a processing unit connected with the output
channels, configured for establishing a plurality of processes and
for controlling performance of the processes according to time
division multiplexing (TDM) technology, wherein each of the
processes is configured for playing multimedia files and is
assigned with one of the output channels for outputting the
multimedia files.
2. The audio player according to claim 1, wherein each of the
output channels and the processes is assigned with an
identification code and a process ID respectively, and each of the
processes is associated with a plurality of process parameters, one
of which is configured for recording the process ID and one of
which is configured for recording the identification code of the
output channel assigned to the process.
3. The audio player according to claim 2, further comprising a
memory configured for storing the multimedia files and play
parameters, wherein the output channels output the multimedia files
according to the play parameters.
4. The audio player according to claim 1, further comprising a
control panel configured for generating instructions of selecting
output channels, wherein the processing unit establishes the
processes according to the instructions.
5. The audio player according to claim 4, wherein the control panel
is further configured for generating instructions of setting the
play parameters.
6. The audio player according to claim 1, further comprising a
display unit for displaying metadata of each of the played
multimedia files in turn.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to audio players, and
particularly to an audio player capable of playing multiple
multimedia files simultaneously.
[0003] 2. General Background
[0004] Portable music players such as MP3 players are popular
devices to play music and other MP3 compatible documents.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional MP3 player is generally
equipped with a codec, an amplifier, and an audio output port.
These components form one output channel for outputting sound. The
conventional MP3 player allows a single person to listen to music
through the one output channel. However, the conventional MP3
player does not allow more than one person to listen to more than
one musical file independently and simultaneously.
[0006] What is needed, therefore, is an audio player capable of
playing multiple multimedia files simultaneously and allowing
multiple persons to listen to each multimedia files independently
and simultaneously.
SUMMARY
[0007] An audio player is provided. The audio player includes a
processing unit and a plurality of output channels. Each of the
output channels is configured for outputting multimedia files. Each
of the output channels includes a codec, an amplifier, and an audio
output port. The amplifier is connected to the codec and the audio
output port. The processing unit is connected with the output
channels. The processing unit is configured for establishing a
plurality of processes and for controlling performance of the
processes according to time division multiplexing (TDM) technology.
Wherein, each of the processes is configured for playing multimedia
files and is assigned with one of the output channels for
outputting the multimedia files.
[0008] Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the
following detailed description with reference to the attached
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an appearance of an audio
player in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware infrastructure of the
audio player of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing performance of multiple
processes performed by the audio player of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a control panel of the
audio player of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of hardware infrastructure of
a conventional audio player.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an audio player in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The audio player 100 is equipped with a plurality of audio output
ports 9. For example, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, two
audio output ports 9A, 9B are shown. Each of the two audio output
ports 9A, 9B is configured for connecting to a transducer 10, such
as a speaker or an earphone. The audio player 100 is operable to
play a corresponding multimedia file and to output audio of the
corresponding multimedia file through a designated audio output
port 9. In other words, each of the audio output ports 9 can output
audio independent of each other. That is, the audio output ports 9
can output audio of same multimedia files or different multimedia
files independent of each other simultaneously.
[0015] The audio player 100 is further equipped with a display unit
5 and a control panel 6. When the audio player 100 plays the
multimedia files, the display unit 5 shows metadata of the played
multimedia files that correspond to the selected audio output
port(s) one after the other. For example, when an audio output port
9 is selected, the display unit 5 only shows a piece of metadata of
the played multimedia file corresponding to the selected audio
output port 9. When multiple audio output ports 9 are selected, for
example, three audio output ports 9, the display unit 5 shows three
pieces of metadata of the played multimedia files corresponding to
the selected audio output ports 9 one by one. The control panel 6
is configured for generating instructions when receiving a user
input. Referring to FIG. 4, the control panel 6 includes a
plurality of port selection keys 62, a plurality of control buttons
64, and a power button 66.
[0016] Each of the port selection keys 62 is assigned with a port
ID and a specified output channel that is identified/assigned with
an identification code. When the audio player 100 is turned off,
each of the port selection keys 62 can be used as a switch for
turning on the audio player 100 for music play. That is, each of
the port selection keys 62 is configured for generating a signal to
activate a processing unit 10 (see FIG. 2) to establish a
corresponding process for playing corresponding multimedia files
through the corresponding output channel. The corresponding process
defines a plurality of process parameters for recording information
related to the process. For example, the process parameters include
a process identifier (ID) for identifying the process, the
identification code of the corresponding output channel, and play
parameters for running the process. The play parameters may
include, but not limited to, a data path of the multimedia files, a
flag indicating which one of the multimedia files is ready to be
played, a play mode of the multimedia files (e.g., sequential play,
loop play, single music loop play, random play, etc), a volume
output of the multimedia files, and the like.
[0017] The control buttons 64 include, but not limited to, a
foremost button 64a, an aftermost button 64f, a forward button 64e,
a backward button 64b, a stop button 64c, a play/pause button 64d,
and a volume adjustment button 64g. During listening to music, the
user can press the control buttons 64 to reset the play parameters
after pressing a corresponding port selection key 62. That is,
during playing the multimedia files, the processing unit 10
determines which output channel is selected according to the
pressed port selection key 62, and reset the associated play
parameters corresponding to the determined output channel according
to the control buttons 64.
[0018] The foremost button 64a is configured for activating the
processing unit 10 to play a multimedia file which is listed
firstly on a playlist, while theaftermost button 64f is configured
for activating the processing unit 10 to play a multimedia file
which is listed lastly on the playlist. The forward button 64e and
the backward button 64b are configured for activating the
processing unit 10 to play a next multimedia file and a previous
multimedia file respectively. The stop button 64c is configured for
activating the processing unit 10 to stop playing the multimedia
file. The play/pause button 64d is configured for activating the
processing unit 10 to play or pause the multimedia file. The volume
adjustment button 64g is configured for increasing or decreasing
volume output of the multimedia file.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware infrastructure of the
audio player 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention. As compared with the
conventional audio player as that shown in FIG. 5, the audio player
100 includes a plurality of codecs 7, amplifiers 8, and audio
output ports 9, which are operable to form multiple output
channels. For simplicity, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two
codecs 7A, 7B, amplifiers 8A, 8B, and audio output ports 9A, 9B are
shown.
[0020] Each of the codecs 7 is connected with the processing unit
10 and one of the amplifiers 8, and each of the amplifiers 8 is
further connected with one of the audio output ports 9. In other
words, one of the codecs 7, amplifiers 8, and audio output ports 9
make up one output channel for outputting the multimedia files.
Further, each of the codecs 7 is assigned with the identification
code that can be also used and regarded as the identification code
of the corresponding output channel.
[0021] When one of the port selection keys 62 is selected, the
processing unit 10 identifies the selected port selection key 62
according to the port ID, and selects the corresponding output
channel for outputting the multimedia files according to the
identification code assigned to the identified port selection key
62, thereby establishing the corresponding process for outputting
the multimedia files.
[0022] That is, the processing unit 10 obtains corresponding play
parameters associated with the established process from the storage
device 3 according to the process ID of the established process,
and temporarily stores the obtained play parameters in an random
access memory (RAM) 4. The processing unit 10 further selects a
corresponding codec 7, amplifier 8, and audio output port 9 (namely
the corresponding output channel) according to the identification
code associated with the selected port selection key 62, and
controls playback of the multimedia files according to the obtained
play parameters.
[0023] When another one of the port selection keys 62 is selected
while the audio player 100 is playing the multimedia files (namely
where the audio player 100 has a running process playing the
multimedia files), the processing unit 10 establishes a new process
corresponding to the new selected port selection key 62, and
controls performance of these processes (e.g., the running process
and the new process) according to time division multiplexing (TDM)
technology.
[0024] In addition, the audio player 100 further provides a
predetermined time for setting the play parameters after a
selection operation of one of the port selection keys 62. That is,
after one of the port selection keys 62 is selected, the processing
unit 10 updates the corresponding play parameters in response to
the user's operations (e.g., volume adjustment operation,
multimedia file selection operation, etc.) on the control panel 6
in the predetermined time. In other words, when the user's
operations are performed after the predetermined time, the
processing unit 10 has no response to the user's operations.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing performance of multiple
processes performed by the audio player 100. In step S1, after the
audio player 100 is powered on, the processing unit 10 invokes a
controlling program for controlling performance of the audio player
100.
[0026] In step S2, the processing unit 10 receives the instructions
generated from the control panel 6.
[0027] In step S3, the processing unit 10 processes the received
instructions. For example, the processing unit 10 identifies the
selected port selection key(s) 62 according to the port ID(s) and
establishes the corresponding process(es) for playing the
multimedia files.
[0028] In step S4, the processing unit 10 obtains the corresponding
parameters associated with one of the established process(es) from
the storage device 3, and temporarily stores the obtained play
parameters in the RAM 4. In addition, if there are instructions for
setting the play parameters following the instruction corresponding
to the selection operation of one of the port selection keys 62,
the processing unit 10 updates the play parameters in the RAM
4.
[0029] In step S5, the processing unit 10 selects the corresponding
codec 7, amplifier 8, and audio output port 9 (namely the
corresponding output channel) for outputting the corresponding
multimedia files according to the identification code assigned to
the established process.
[0030] In step S6, the processing unit 10 controls the selected
codec 7, amplifier 8, and audio output port 9 to output the
corresponding multimedia files according to the corresponding play
parameters. The processing unit 10 further updates the
corresponding play parameters (e.g., the flag indicating which
multimedia files is ready to be played) after finishing playing a
multimedia file.
[0031] In step S7, the processing unit 10 repeats the
aforementioned steps S4-S6 to perform other established process(es)
according to the TDM technology.
[0032] In step S8, when one of the established process(es) is
terminated, the processing unit 10 obtains the play parameters of
the terminated process and updates the play parameters in the
storage device3 with the obtained play parameters from the RAM
4.
[0033] In step S9, when the audio player 100 is terminated, the
processing unit 10 obtains the corresponding play parameters of the
running process(es), and updates the corresponding play parameters
in the storage device 3 with the obtained play parameters from the
RAM 4 respectively.
[0034] The above performance of the steps S2-S9 is under the
control of the control program.
[0035] Although the present invention has been specifically
described on the basis of a preferred embodiment including a
preferred method thereof, the invention is not to be construed as
being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made
to the embodiment including the method without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *